Life is indeed fragile.

I wish I would take better care of myself (and my family).

I've been struggling to shake this middle ear virus for about 3 to 4 weeks now and its showing no signs of abating. More sleep, more exercise and a better diet supplemented by a multi-vitamin is the way I hope to clear it up. Here's to that.

Today I also found out that my father, who up to now has enjoyed superbly good value for his 77 years, may have suffered a minor stroke. Doctor's appointment is tomorrow morning. Needless to say this has all come as a bit of a shock. I hope Pop's gonna be okay. I must make an effort to see my parent's more often.

This all goes to show that we all invariably take our health and our families for granted. We need to cherish these gifts.

Want what you can't have?

From the first moment you lay eyes on her you are mesmerised.

A blinding light just illuminated the whole room, yet somehow everyone else is still stumbling around in the darkness, oblivious. You are the only one that is drawn in, powerless to stop it. Stopped dead. Obliterated. It's magnetic and visceral and you instantly know this moment will be imprinted in your memory for the remainder of your life. Your benchmark.

This is a response you just can't describe to anyone else unless they too have experienced it. Nobody can tell you how a serendipitous collection of circumstances coupled with a person's physical and personality qualities can produce such a vivid response. Until it finally does so for you.

You secretly marvel at the way she lightly squeezes your arm in conversation or tilts her head back when she laughs. Ordinary perhaps, but it's the way that she does it that stays with you. Extraordinary, with every time deliciously like the first. In time, even her idiosyncrasies become endearing. As they should. You can't imagine her without them. The way she tries to cram too much into her day or how she always manages to arrives ten minutes late. All of this is somehow forgivable.

I can recall this happening only twice in my life. The first time it happened she walked up, smiled at me and that was it. Radiant. Instantaneous. Fatal. That moment produced two fantastic years and significantly my own benchmark for both love and heartbreak.

The second time produced the same response but not the same result. Sometimes I catch myself looking at her in that way and wonder how she would react if I told her my thoughts.

It's all in the details. In the end I think that's all that matters.